Old Woman Essay

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According to Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren in Art History some artists of the Hellenistic period portrayed the world as they saw it, by representing people from every level of society. (Stokstad and Cothren, 2014). An example is a sculpture which is referred to as “the old woman”, produced by an unknown artist. This sculpture is not from Greek myth but instead is a portrayal of an elderly woman of the era. The marble statue of an old woman was originated in the late second century BC and is a perfect depiction of daily life in ancient Greece due to the beauty of its intricate detail and the artists portrayal of a member of society. This sculpture of an elderly woman has been the subject of different interpretations over the years, although this doesn 't change the fact that this sculpture is a portrayal of a member of society and depicts everyday life in Greece. The old woman has been originally viewed as a seller on her way to the marketplace, commonly referred to as agora, although in recent years she has been considered as an aging follower of Dionysos on her way to a festival. (Stokstad and Cothren, 2014) This art piece is a prime example of how artists in this era tried to depict …show more content…

This is expressed through the artists expression of the elderly woman 's haggard appearance. The exhausted expression in her face, how her attire is worn and hanging off her, the baskets she is carrying that clearly are almost dragging on the ground, and her poor posture. This elderly woman was of good socioeconomic status due to the ivy in her hair and her attire. Although despite her status and the fact that she was elderly she was haggard from a long day of working at the market place. The chickens and fruit represent life as it once was, from a more simpler time. The fact that she had to work in the marketplace to earn money was an indication of the changing times and desire for

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